1. John Howard Rutsey was a Canadian musician best known as a founding member and original drummer of Rush.
12 Facts About John Rutsey
1. 2.
John Rutsey performed on the band's 1974 debut album, but left shortly after its release due to health problems which limited his ability to tour with the band.
3.
John Rutsey was replaced by Neil Peart, who would remain the drummer of Rush on the band's future recordings and for the rest of its active history.
4.
John Rutsey had an older brother named Bill, and a younger brother named Mike who became a baseball writer.
5.
John Rutsey was a student at St Patrick's School, and it was there that he met Gary Weinrib and Alex Zivojinovich.
6.
Whereas Lee and Lifeson were listening to progressive rock bands such as Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis at that time, John Rutsey drew more inspiration from the harder styles of bands such as Bad Company.
7.
John Rutsey's commitment has been credited with providing the band's early direction, as it was he who took the band most seriously and would insist on regular practice sessions.
8.
Lee and Lifeson have each acknowledged that during the writing and recording sessions for the band's debut album, John Rutsey was given the role of chief lyricist.
9.
In interviews, Lee and Lifeson have both said that John Rutsey was dissatisfied with what he had written and had torn up the lyric sheets.
10.
On May 11,2008, John Rutsey died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack, related to complications from diabetes.
11.
John Rutsey's family wished to keep the funeral a private affair, although donations would be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Markham, Ontario.
12.
John Rutsey will be deeply missed by all he touched.